As a young urban planner, Sam Austin wants to challenge the way our cities are designed and shaped. Why do decision makers always hear from the residents and businesses who say ‘no’ to developments. And how can cities instead be informed by the opinions of young people who will inherit it?
Sam advocates for building denser, walkable communities to address climate change, mental health, and access to housing by updating planning systems to include youth representation and encouraging individuals to actively participate in local and state government processes. Samuel Austin is the NSW Young Planner of the Year 2022, awarded by the Planning Institute of Australia. Through his involvement in the media and policy submission work, Samuel has been a fierce advocate for the issues faced by today’s young adults, including addressing the housing crisis, improving the night time economy, and helping make our cities more resilient and climate ready.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
